Fresh Fruit is Ripe - Make Smoothies!

It's summertime, when fresh fruits abound -succulent berries (I just bought some Marionberries today at our local farmer's market!), stone fruit, plentiful Kale and other greens - it's the perfect season to enjoy healthy, delicious fresh smoothies - a special treat, and very easy to make when you want to be outdoors enjoying the sunshine. Three of Cherie's favorite smoothie recipes:

Banana-Blueberry SmoothieYield: 4 cups/1 L (1 large or 2 medium-size servings) Bananas and oranges are available year-round, and with the addition of fresh antioxidant-rich blueberries, omega-3-rich flax seeds, and nutrient-dense greens, you have the makings of a perfect start to a beautiful day!

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Add a small amount of purified water, if needed, to achieve the desired consistency. Serve immediately. Note: Adding the optional kale or lettuce will add minerals and will help to balance the sweetness of the fruit.

Blue-Green Smoothie for OneYield 24 ounces/710 mL (1 large serving) This easy-to-make smoothie for one can be sipped over the course of a morning. If you find the deep blue-green color created by mixing mineral-rich kale and antioxidant-rich blueberries unusual, serve it in a mug rather than a glass.

Nutrition Note A Blue-Green Smoothie delivers 7 grams of protein plus more than 20% of your day's supply of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, and six B vitamins (folate, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, thiamin, and vitamin B6,). Furthermore, it supplies your recommended intake of vitamins C and K and beta-carotene several times over.

Nutrition Note This smoothie is low in fat and high in antioxidants, and with the addition of greens, its nutrient density soars! With only 206 calories, a single serving packs over 100% of the RDA for vitamins C and K, an impressive 11 grams of fiber, and 142 mg of calcium.